Sooners Stymie Bearcats

Saturday, September 23

Cincinnati, Ohio

11 a.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

4-0 , 1-0

Cincinnati

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oklahoma

Cincinnati

Photo by: Morgan Givens, OU Athletics

September 23, 2023 | Football

Box Score Final Stats Notes Highlights Photo Gallery

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — Dillon Gabriel threw for 322 yards and accounted for two touchdowns as No. 16 Oklahoma welcomed Cincinnati to the Big 12 Conference with a 20-6 defeat Saturday.

The UCF transfer completed 26 of 38 passes, rebounding from his three-interception performance in his last trip to Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium in 2019 and notching his first career victory in three tries against the Bearcats.

Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) outgained Cincinnati (2-2, 0-1) 322-202 through the air.

"Dillon was able to extend a couple plays," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. "There are some designed plays we run for him too. There was a speed option. He ran a quarterback draw which he did a really nice job. It is always good to have that. It is what we call a plus-one run game."

Cincinnati's points came on two field goals. The Bearcats (2-2, 0-1) have gone 15 straight drives without scoring a touchdown, dating back to last week's overtime loss at home to in-state foe Miami (Ohio).

Carter Brown made a 40-yard field goal to open the scoring with 7:39 in the first quarter.

Oklahoma responded at the end of the quarter, capping a six-play, 66-yard drive with a 5-yard strike from Gabriel to Nic Anderson.

The Sooners grabbed a 10-3 lead on a 34-yard field goal with 8:40 to go before halftime.

Cincinnati quarterback Emory Jones threw a pass into double coverage in the end zone on the ensuing drive, resulting in an interception by safety Key Lawrence. The turnover was the closest the Bearcats would come to a touchdown.

Brown missed a 26-yard field goal just before intermission, continuing the Bearcats' woes near the end zone. He bounced back by netting a career-long 54-yarder to pull the Bearcats within 10-6 at the 8:22 mark of the third.

Oklahoma's offense countered with a nine-play, 75-yard surgical drive. Gabriel punctuated it by calling his own number on a 1-yard score to put the Sooners ahead 17-6 with 5:23 before the fourth.

Oklahoma surged ahead 20-6 following a 30-yard field goal in the fourth, and then the Sooners defense picked off Jones for the second time.

Oklahoma's defense sacked Jones twice.

TAKEAWAYS

The Sooners' march toward a 15th and final Big 12 title got off to a solid start. Oklahoma, who is scheduled to join the Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2024, has more conference championships than any other Big 12 program. No other program has more than three. Oklahoma has now held opposing teams to 17 or fewer points in each of its first four games.

UP NEXT

The Sooners return home Sept. 30 to host Iowa State. Oklahoma has won three straight meetings against the Cyclones. The Sooners haven't lost in the series since Oct. 3, 2020 (37-30) in Ames, Iowa.